West Bank: Palestinian traffic banned

Security establishment responds to Sunday’s West Bank terror attacks: Private Palestinian vehicles from traveling along West Bank roads; IDF to return to its policy of encircling West Bank Palestinian towns that harbor terrorists. Mofaz says, ‘As long as the terror attacks persist Israel will not be able to continue the diplomatic process with the Palestinians’

The security establishment decided to increase pressure on the Palestinian terror organizations following Sunday’s terror attacks in the West Bank, that left three Israelis dead and four others injure.

During a meeting convened by Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz Sunday evening it was decided to forbid private Palestinian vehicles from traveling

along West Bank roads following Sunday’s terror attacks in the area. Palestinians will be forced to travel via public transportation only.

Security establishment officials said this move would decrease the terrorists’ ability to reach Israeli population centers in the area and carry out attacks similar to Sunday’s shootings at the Gush Etzion and Eli junctions.

Previous drive-by terror attacks in the West Bank were also the result of Israeli concessions regarding Palestinian travel along the roads.

“We demand that the Palestinian Authority move from the talking phase and actively work against the terror organizations,” Mofaz said during the meeting.

“As long as the terror attacks persist Israel will not be able to continue the diplomatic process with the Palestinians.”

It was also decided that the IDF would return to its policy of encircling West Bank Palestinian towns that harbor terrorists in a bid to create a buffer zones between the different towns.

Israel has refrained from carrying out this policy as of late in the framework of the concessions offered to the Palestinians, the transfer of West Bank towns to PA control and the ongoing diplomatic process.

However, security officials contend that the policy of encircling Palestinian towns remains effective in the war on terror.

It was also decided during the meeting that the IDF would continue to apprehend suspected terrorists throughout the region; some 700 terrorists from the various Palestinian organizations have been arrested during the past few months.

The security establishment wishes to offer the Palestinians and the PA further concessions and give the Authority more security-related responsibilities to advance the diplomatic process, but it remains fearful that the terror organizations may take advantage of the situation to carry out more attacks.